From the Pen of Paul

The "more excellent way"—The Characteristics of Love
(Part 9)

This week we are concluding our series on "the more excellent way"—the way of love—discussed by Paul in I Corinthians 13.

We have already noted the many characteristics of love as given by Paul. These characteristics include eight positive features that love does and seven negative features—things which love will prevent one from doing. Paul presented these qualities of love in an effort to convince the Corinthians that there was something far more important than receiving spiritual gifts, which were only transitory at best. Putting these attributes of love into practice would have eliminated wrangling over gifts, division, envy, jealousy, pride, strife and all other bad character traits.

Paul used three examples to convince the Corinthians that the way of love was superior to having the gift of tongues, which seemed to be the one gift that they thought placed them at the top of the spiritual ladder. He compared the spiritual gifts stage of the church as the childhood period—a time when they only knew in part; it was a time, due to this limited knowledge of God's will, like looking into a mirror and only seeing an unclear image. But when "the which is perfect is come," when they would have the completed will of God in written form, it would be the period of man-hood or maturity in the church, they would no longer only know "in part" and they would see clearly as if standing face-to-face.

However, there was no reason for the church at Corinth to feel insecure simply because they were in the childhood period of the church so far as spiritual gifts were concerned; while they were looking forward to the time when God's completed revelation of His Word would be theirs, Paul reminded them that even then there were things which abide or remain—faith, hope and love.

The abiding faith is not to be confused with the spiritual gift of faith listed in chapter 12; that gift of faith was miraculous and was one of the things that would be done away with. Faith in Jesus Christ whom God raised from the dead is an abiding faith. Study very carefully the following scriptures that have to do with this abiding faith: John 20:30-31; John 8:24; Acts 8:36-37; and Hebrews 11:6. Listen to Paul as he speaks of his abiding faith: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (II Timothy 1:12).

Hope that abides is referred to as the "one hope of your calling" in Ephesians 4:4. It is that which anchors the soul, and is both sure (dependable) and stedfast (fixed) (Hebrews 6:19). It is the hope that leads us to live righteous lives (I John 3:3). Hope that is based solidly on the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead will abide until He comes in the clouds and "every eye shall see him" (Rev. 1:7). Paul boldly declares, "we are saved by hope" (Romans 8:24); and because we have this abiding hope of things "that we see not" it will cause us to wait patiently for it (Romans 8:25).

The third abiding thing is love—"the more excellent way" it is permanent; it is the greatest of the three. Jesus' response to the lawyer who asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law" (Matt. 22:35-36), may give some indication why the Holy Spirit guided Paul's pen in declaring love to be the greatest of the three abiding things. Jesus said the first and second commandments involve our responsibility to love God with everything we have and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).

Is it any wonder, that after all Paul has spoken on this important theme, that he would urge the church at Corinth and us today as well to "Follow after love" (I Cor. 14:1)?
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

I was reading a church bulletin a few days back and ran across a very interesting statement. It reads, "Eating in the church building should not be supported by funds from the treasury because there is no authority for these things." This is old anti-ism raising its divisive head again. If a congregation cannot take money out of the church treasury to buy a loaf of bread for a church gathering, then the church house could not be used for such a gathering because it was paid for out of the church treasury.

Can a congregation take money out of the church treasury to pay for the water which is used to flush the commodes? Can a congregation take money out of the church treasury to pay the preacher while he is on vacation? We understand that the preacher who wrote this article had just returned from his vacation. Did the church pay him while he was on vacation? Then the church can pay the preacher while he is on his vacation, but it cannot take any money out of the treasury for Christians to have fellowship? We find this a bit foolish and certainly inconsistent.

Can Christians us electricity to heat up some food for a fellowship meal which is held in the kitchen of the church building? The electricity of the church house is paid for out of the church treasury. Is it the case that we can take money out of the church treasury to pay for the water from the water fountain in the church house, but we cannot take money from the church treasury to buy ice for a church picnic?

Should the preacher be paid while he and his wife ride their bicycle built for two? The money that the preacher receives comes out of the church treasury. Some preachers can work their plan and life into the church treasury without any problem, but they seem to have trouble with others doing the same thing or following the same principle. Jesus called people like this hypocrites (Matt. 23:1-13).

Where in the Bible do we find the authority to have a church bank account? The church where this preacher preaches has one. Why can't the elders of this congregation see this? Where is their reasoning in this matter? Why don't they put a stop to the nonsense of their present preacher? We are not going to let them and their preacher go unnoticed in preaching their anti-ism in this area.

Is it scriptural to feed the grass fertilizer paid for out of the church treasury? If so, then give us book, chapter and verse for it. Yet this preacher preaches for a church that does such. Where is there Bible to pay for the water that is used in the church baptistry from the church treasury? Where is the passage that teaches we can buy flowers from the church treasury for a funeral? If the preacher can find this for us, then he will see the passage that teaches we can buy food for a gathering of the church out of the church treasury.

Where in the Bible do we find a church budget? We do not know of a congregation that does not have a church budget, but where is this found in the Bible? Will the brother at Algood cite it to us if he can? Will the elders where he preaches point us to this passage? We would like to see it. The church where this brother preaches paid for gravel on their parking lot from the church treasury. What verse in the Bible authorizes this?

There are many options or decisions for elders and churches when it comes to the church treasury and its use. It would be a good study for one to sit down with his Bible and list what the money from the church treasury can be used for. We believe some brethren would be surprised if they would do this.
—Malcolm L. Hill